Amusement device



' Sept. 25 1923. 1,468,984

J. w. WEAVER AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Oct. 11. 1922 Hu l.

5 1 6 fizzzzzgmig z INVE N'TUR- Patent Sept. 25, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT oriucs.

some w. wnavna, or romno, onro.

amusnmmr nnvron.

Application fllcd mm 11, 1922. Serial no. mass.

' clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

This invention relates to games or amusement devices and particularly toone adapted to have an educational value and to be played by one or morepersons.

1 An object of the invention is the provision of a device of thecharacterdescribed which is simple and inexpensive in its construction,easy and unique in 1ts manipulation, and adapted to afford amusement toold as well as young.

- ,The invention,- is full described in the.

following specification, and while, in its broaderaspect it is capableof embodlment in numerous forms, a preferred embod1- ment thereof isillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a device embodying the invention. .Fig. 2 15an enlarged section of the ball distributmg means of the device taken onthe line 2-2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the ball dis- Itributing means with. the cover thereof removed and with the balls shownin the position which they assume when the distributing means isrotated, and Fig. 4 isan enlarged fragmentary section on the line 44 inFig. "1.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a table, board or platform ofcircular disc form with the top thereof preferably sloplng slightlyoutwardly and downwardly in all directions from its center so that ballsor marble-like members deposited thereon will havea tendency to rolltowards the periphery thereof. This table is provided with an annularseries of shallow pockets 2 on its top surface at its outer marginaledge portion, the pockets being open at their inner sides to the surfaceof the table and being closed at their outer sides by a band 3 whichextends around the periphery of the table term and projects above theedge thereof to form I a flange, as best shown in Fig. 4. An annular"series of arbitrary numbers 4 is provided on the to of the table,preferably 1n inwardly space relation to the pockets 2, one number beingprovided for each pocket and bein dis osed in radial register therewith.e ta le is also provided on its top with an annular series ofarbitrary'numbers 5, one for each pocket 2 and in radial registertherewith. Associated with each number of the series 5, in the resent.instance, at their inner side thereof is either a minus, plus ormultiple mark which indicates what is to be done with the particularnumber with respect to another number, as hereinafter more fullydescribed.

The table 1 at its center is provided with a bearing member 6 in thepresent instance, of post form, which projects above the table top andhas its upper end socketed to form a bearin ,for receiving the lower endof a shaft This shaft carries a cup-shaped ball distributin member 8with a cover 9 for removably c osing its top, and the upper end of theshaft is provided with a knob or hand grip 10 tofacilitate a turning ofthe member. The member 8 is provided with a substantially flalt bottomportion with a. flange or side wall 8 rising from its margi nal edge,and is provided near its center with an annular series of depressions orball receiving seats 11, in the present instance four in number, whichare equidistantly distributed around the shaft axis. The bottom of themember without the seats 11 preferably in inwardly spaced relation tothe outer wall 8 is provided with a series ofdischarge openings 12arranged in substantially equidistantly spaced relation concentric tothe member axis. The member is also provided with a number of radialpartitions 13 corresponding to the number of seats 11 to divide theouter portion of the member into a plurality of radial pockets orchambers with one disposed without each seat. The cover 9 of thedistributing member closes the to thereof except for the provision of anin ct opening 13 in the cover over each seat 11 so that a ball 14 may bedropped through each opening into a regisseat.

It 15 apparent that a rapid turning of the member 8 when a set of balls14 are resting in the seats 11 thereof will cause an outward throwing ofthe balls b centrifugaliforce them against the outer wall of the member,

they will roll inwardly and drop from the member through one of thedischarge openings 12 therein, and onto the top of the table 1, and thenpassing outward into different pockets 2 of the table. To facilitate thedistributing action of the balls from the member 8 the outer portion ofthe member bottom is slightly outwardly and upwardly inclined, thuscausing the balls to roll by gravity into registermg openings 12 whenthe rotation of the member is redu ed sufficiently to relieve the ballsof the cent '.fugal holding force. It is apparent that the distributingmember 8 may either be turned by hand or by winding a string on thehandle 10 and then rapidly pulling the sameto effect a rotation of themember.

One method of playing the game is as follows: A number of persons up tofour, in

. the present instance, each takes a ball 14 of a distinctive oridentifying color or marking, and deposits it through an opening 13 inthe distributin member into a receiving seat 11 thereof. c then impartsa quick rapid whirling movement to the distributing member 8, whichcauses an outward throwing of the balls 14 from the seats 11 intoradially registering chambers between the flanges 13 where the balls areheld by centrifugal force against the outer wall of the distributingmembers until the speed of turning has been reduced sufficiently topermit the balls to move inward and drop through the openings 12 ontothe table, the balls then moving outward each into a different pocket 2of the table. A record is then made for each player of the number in theseries 4 with which his ball radially registers. The balls are thenagain dropped into the distributing member 8 and the member whirls asbefore to throw the balls to the outer side thereof and to permitthem tobe distributed to the table when the whirling is stopped. The numbers intheseries 5 and the plus, minus or multiplicatio marks in connectiontherewith are now considered and the amount in register with each ballis then either added to, subtracted from or used essee-a as a multiplierfor the numbers a desired number of operations and the person who at theend has the largest amount to his credit wins the game. It is evidentthat this amusement device is of particular educational value as thelaying of the same re uires either the ad ition, subtraction or. mutiplication of various numbers.

I wish it understood that my invention is not limited to any specificconstruction, arrangement or form of the parts, as 1t is capable ofembodiment in numerous forms without departing from the spirit of theclaims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is,-

1. In a device of the class described, a plurality of playing balls, atable havin various ball receiving positions thereon, an a hollowrotatable distributing member adapted to hold the balls in initialposition and when rotated to throw the balls to outer positions in themember and having inclined portions to then permit an inward gravitymovement of the balls to and through registering openings in the memberbottom onto the table top, the member being provided with ihteriorportions which maintain the balls in predetermined circularly spacedrelation when in their outer positions within the member.

2. In a device of the class described, a plurality of playing balls, atable having various receiving positions for the balls, a cuplike memberrotatably mounted over the table and having provision for theintroduction of the balls therein and provided internally with aninitial seating portion for the balls with a plurality of flangesradiating from such portions to annularly divide the outer portion ofthe member into chambers and having discharge openings in its bottom ininwardly spaced relation to the outer wall of the member and inclineswithout the openings leading thereto, the balls being adapted to bethrown by centrifugal action from the initial seating positions thereofoutward across the bottom openings and against the outer confining wallof the member on the bottom inclines when the member is rapidly rotatedand to move inward by gravity to and through the discharge openings andonto the table when the balls are relieved of the centrifugal force.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to thisspecification.

JoHN w. WEAVER.

